College Lifestyle: What to Store

Deciding what to do with all of the things you have accumulated during your years in college can be stressful, even frustrating. At the end of spring semester it may be difficult to decide if you are really ever going to wear half of your clothes again or read through that pile of books stacked on your shelves one day. Regardless, you may find yourself moving all of those extra things from year to year into a new dorm room or apartment as you watch them take up more and more valuable space that you could be using to live more comfortably.

Some things you may be able to get rid of, but you know that occasionally you need random things that are important to have even if they are seldom used. Knowing which things will be needed may be a challenge, but decluttering your college home can make your days there much more enjoyable. Outsourcing your extra items to different locations will give you more options. It may make it possible for you to design your living space and tailor it to your own personality.

First, plan out what you need and ask yourself the following questions:

Is your load of extra stuff getting out of hand?

When do you need to free up some extra space?

Is this going to be temporary, such as over the summer or for a semester when you study abroad?

How much time do you wish to spend sorting through the items and separating them into the things you might use in the near future and the things you can live without?

Leasing a self storage unit near campus may open up some beneficial options, as illustrated below:

You will be able to go to the self storage facility and pick up the items you need at your convenience. When you find that a reference to last year’s science book would fit perfectly into this year’s research paper, you may be relieved to know that you just have to drive down the road to find it.

Easy access will allow you to rotate seasonal clothing throughout the school year.

You will be able to pack furniture near campus during breaks.

You can take things to the unit anytime and quickly make space in your room.

It will provide a place to store items, such as last term’s books, until you can sell them online.

If you decide to rent a self storage unit, there are some things you should keep in mind:

Storage facilities, especially near large campuses, get booked fast as summer approaches, so make plans to reserve a unit well in advance.

Avoid the degeneration of your items. Be sure to wash clothes and blankets, and to store your items properly.

Leave room in and around boxes of clothes for ventilation, and keep the door of your mini fridge open. Over time, especially with the increase of humidity, moisture and mildew can build up.

Remember storing electronics like a television or video game system will require a climate-controlled unit to ensure that parts do not melt.